CD row: Govt to abide by HC orders

Shimla, March 9 Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today said the government will abide by the High Court orders on the controversial CD, which was released by former Congress minister Vijai Singh Mankotia, levelling charges of corruption against former CM Virbhadra Singh.
“I have not ordered any inquiry into the CD. The matter is
sub-justice and pending in the High Court. If the High Court passes any order to hold an inquiry, we will implement the directions,” said the Chief Minister.
When contacted to confirm reports about a Vigilance probe, Dhumal said the government has not thought of such a probe so far. “Some Congress leaders had approached the High Court to get a stay on use of the CD during the Assembly elections. Even I have also been made a party in the petition. Only three days back, I received notices,” he said.
The state Vigilance Bureau has also denied having initiated any inquiry. Said a senior police official, “It’s a matter which strictly falls in the government’s domain. As far as we know, there is some case in the High Court and even a lower court.”
Dhumal made it clear that the government has taken a decision not to resort to any “witch-hunting against political adversaries, though the Congress government during its tenure had not spared any effort to frame BJP leaders”. Dhumal, however, claimed that some corrupt deals of the previous government have come to the notice of the government. “Law will take its course against those involved in these acts,” said the CM.
The CD had created quite a storm after its release by Mankotia, then a sitting Congress MLA, who was later suspended by the party. Mankotia has chosen to release the CD a few days before Hamirpur Lok Sabha bypoll and it actually worked against the Congress after BJP made corruption an issue against the ruling party.
Express news service; Posted online: Monday , March 10,